I was Refused Service at McDonalds
05-17-16, 07:19 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 103
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I was Refused Service at McDonalds
I was out riding tonight on my single speed and didn't plan on any stops so I left my lock at home. I rode by a McDonalds and thought a ice cream would be nice. I couldn't risk leaving my bike unattended so I tried to order at the drive up speaker. I was refused service because my bike is not considered a motor vehicle. I explained that I couldn't leave my bike outside without a lock. They didn't care so I spoke to their manager and got the same answer. Apparently they don't like ride up customers or grumpy old men on bikes. I suggested they don't want my business and was told they don't want my business. So much for that relaxing ride. Am I being hypersensitive or is their corporate policy a few fries short of a happy meal?
05-17-16, 07:26 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Central Indiana
Posts: 2,201
Bikes: Old Stuff
Mentioned: 27 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 911 Post(s)
Liked 509 Times
in
341 Posts
Yes, hypersensitive. Did you perhaps already know their drive through policy before asking them to change it?
05-17-16, 07:34 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: D'uh... I am a Cutter
Posts: 6,159
Bikes: '17 Access Old Turnpike Gravel bike, '14 Trek 1.1, '13 Cannondale CAAD 10, '98 CAD 2, R300
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1571 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
So as long as you were wearing shoes and a shirt.... why didn't you just hoist your bike to your shoulder walk in and order your cone?
If instead of forgetting your lock.... if you had forgot your money would you had expected them to serve you ice cream today... with a promise to be paid on Tuesday?
https://youtu.be/NJ6xBaZ92uA
If instead of forgetting your lock.... if you had forgot your money would you had expected them to serve you ice cream today... with a promise to be paid on Tuesday?
https://youtu.be/NJ6xBaZ92uA
05-17-16, 07:39 PM
#4
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times
in
1,187 Posts
The manager should of offered to bring one to you at the front door.
05-17-16, 07:42 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 9,201
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1186 Post(s)
Liked 289 Times
in
177 Posts
More than a few threads on this topic. Bring your bike inside or find a better neighborhood to stop at. They're concerned with liability if a lousy driver runs over you.
05-17-16, 07:51 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 103
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
So as long as you were wearing shoes and a shirt.... why didn't you just hoist your bike to your shoulder walk in and order your cone?
If instead of forgetting your lock.... if you had forgot your money would you had expected them to serve you ice cream today... with a promise to be paid on Tuesday?
https://youtu.be/NJ6xBaZ92uA
If instead of forgetting your lock.... if you had forgot your money would you had expected them to serve you ice cream today... with a promise to be paid on Tuesday?
https://youtu.be/NJ6xBaZ92uA
05-17-16, 07:52 PM
#8
Senior Member
Hmmm don't think a single drive thru in my area allows bicyclists not just a Macdonald's thing. Even horseback riders cannot go through drive thru.
05-17-16, 07:56 PM
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 103
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
05-17-16, 07:58 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: D'uh... I am a Cutter
Posts: 6,159
Bikes: '17 Access Old Turnpike Gravel bike, '14 Trek 1.1, '13 Cannondale CAAD 10, '98 CAD 2, R300
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1571 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
+1 I ride a pretty large area. But I make a point of knowing what is where. Some areas I ride through are sketchy enough... I don't stop (period). Other areas there aren't much to worry about. But even in the safest, nicest, of neighborhoods I don't leave my bike alone for long... and never unlocked.
But I also know I can carry my bike inside many park restrooms. I know where public outside drinking fountains are. I even know where I can get food (or an ice cream) and never walk away from my bike.
That sucks that you lost a bike... that's a real bummer.
But I also know I can carry my bike inside many park restrooms. I know where public outside drinking fountains are. I even know where I can get food (or an ice cream) and never walk away from my bike.
That sucks that you lost a bike... that's a real bummer.
Last edited by Dave Cutter; 05-17-16 at 08:02 PM.
05-17-16, 08:13 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 766
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Perhaps it is not a corporate policy, but one set by the individual franchisee? I've seen on television where a McD's in Alaska accepted snowmobiles, for example.
05-17-16, 08:17 PM
#13
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
Bingo. Further most fast food joints are like this. Several around here have explicitly put up signs on their drive-thru windows stipulating "only people in/on motor vehicles, otherwise go inside".
05-17-16, 08:17 PM
#14
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,490
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4542 Post(s)
Liked 2,770 Times
in
1,783 Posts
Choose another restaurant. McDonald's sucks anyway, and in every way. Worst major chain fast food joint and they don't deserve anyone's business because they don't even try to give half a damn. Their food is terrible, they're overpriced (except for the dollar menu), and most have indifferent and obnoxious employees and managers.
Send a constructively but strongly worded email or social media post to McD's national HQ. But don't expect much. If they gave a tiny damn we'd have seen some results long ago. McD's deserves to go out of business.
My mom used to pull up to the window at Sonic in her wheelchair, which cracked up the employees. She could have gone to the various parking lot or picnic tables but they humored her and served her at the window.
I usually stop at Sonic because they're ubiquitous in Texas and I can order from their covered picnic table patios.
If the joint isn't busy I'd take my bike inside. Most of the places I stop for a bite would probably find it amusing at worst. Otherwise I'll lock it where I can keep an eye on it.
Send a constructively but strongly worded email or social media post to McD's national HQ. But don't expect much. If they gave a tiny damn we'd have seen some results long ago. McD's deserves to go out of business.
My mom used to pull up to the window at Sonic in her wheelchair, which cracked up the employees. She could have gone to the various parking lot or picnic tables but they humored her and served her at the window.
I usually stop at Sonic because they're ubiquitous in Texas and I can order from their covered picnic table patios.
If the joint isn't busy I'd take my bike inside. Most of the places I stop for a bite would probably find it amusing at worst. Otherwise I'll lock it where I can keep an eye on it.
05-17-16, 08:33 PM
#15
Senior Member
Dairy Queen I think is the only national chain with a "walk thru" window. So that you stand outside to buy ice cream, I have seen several smaller non chained ice cream shops do this too.
05-17-16, 08:39 PM
#16
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Delaware shore
Posts: 13,554
Bikes: Cervelo C5, Guru Photon, Waterford, Specialized CX
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1083 Post(s)
Liked 1,999 Times
in
1,365 Posts
Many drivers do not pay attention to even other cars at drive up lanes. Ever see the near fender benders where two order lanes merge to one? I can see how cyclists can easily get hit. I don't blame McDonalds or any other place to not serve people outside of cars.
05-17-16, 08:49 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,033
Bikes: I own N+1 bikes, where N=0.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've had mixed luck with drive thrus, even at the same restaurants. It all depends on who is working and their mood.
05-17-16, 08:50 PM
#18
Senior Member
Choose another restaurant. McDonald's sucks anyway, and in every way. Worst major chain fast food joint and they don't deserve anyone's business because they don't even try to give half a damn. Their food is terrible, they're overpriced (except for the dollar menu), and most have indifferent and obnoxious employees and managers.
Send a constructively but strongly worded email or social media post to McD's national HQ. But don't expect much. If they gave a tiny damn we'd have seen some results long ago. McD's deserves to go out of business.
My mom used to pull up to the window at Sonic in her wheelchair, which cracked up the employees. She could have gone to the various parking lot or picnic tables but they humored her and served her at the window.
I usually stop at Sonic because they're ubiquitous in Texas and I can order from their covered picnic table patios.
If the joint isn't busy I'd take my bike inside. Most of the places I stop for a bite would probably find it amusing at worst. Otherwise I'll lock it where I can keep an eye on it.
Send a constructively but strongly worded email or social media post to McD's national HQ. But don't expect much. If they gave a tiny damn we'd have seen some results long ago. McD's deserves to go out of business.
My mom used to pull up to the window at Sonic in her wheelchair, which cracked up the employees. She could have gone to the various parking lot or picnic tables but they humored her and served her at the window.
I usually stop at Sonic because they're ubiquitous in Texas and I can order from their covered picnic table patios.
If the joint isn't busy I'd take my bike inside. Most of the places I stop for a bite would probably find it amusing at worst. Otherwise I'll lock it where I can keep an eye on it.
05-17-16, 08:51 PM
#19
Senior Member
I think taking the bike inside is a bad idea. It's a restaurant, not a bike park.
05-17-16, 09:04 PM
#21
Banned
Join Date: May 2015
Location: North Jersey
Posts: 1,245
Bikes: 1975 Motobecane Le Champion lilac, 2015 Specialized Secteur Elite
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 97 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Choose another restaurant. McDonald's sucks anyway, and in every way. Worst major chain fast food joint and they don't deserve anyone's business because they don't even try to give half a damn. Their food is terrible, they're overpriced (except for the dollar menu), and most have indifferent and obnoxious employees and managers.
Send a constructively but strongly worded email or social media post to McD's national HQ. But don't expect much. If they gave a tiny damn we'd have seen some results long ago. McD's deserves to go out of business.
My mom used to pull up to the window at Sonic in her wheelchair, which cracked up the employees. She could have gone to the various parking lot or picnic tables but they humored her and served her at the window.
I usually stop at Sonic because they're ubiquitous in Texas and I can order from their covered picnic table patios.
If the joint isn't busy I'd take my bike inside. Most of the places I stop for a bite would probab
ly find it amusing at worst. Otherwise I'll lock it where I can keep an eye on it.
Send a constructively but strongly worded email or social media post to McD's national HQ. But don't expect much. If they gave a tiny damn we'd have seen some results long ago. McD's deserves to go out of business.
My mom used to pull up to the window at Sonic in her wheelchair, which cracked up the employees. She could have gone to the various parking lot or picnic tables but they humored her and served her at the window.
I usually stop at Sonic because they're ubiquitous in Texas and I can order from their covered picnic table patios.
If the joint isn't busy I'd take my bike inside. Most of the places I stop for a bite would probab
ly find it amusing at worst. Otherwise I'll lock it where I can keep an eye on it.
05-17-16, 09:17 PM
#23
Senior Member
Burgerville in Oregn allows bikes to go through drive through. They're local and know we have lots of cyclists.
05-17-16, 09:22 PM
#24
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,490
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4542 Post(s)
Liked 2,770 Times
in
1,783 Posts
McDonalds is fast food and as far as fast food goes it is fine. Either way, Sonic is the same type of crap so not sure why you would even go there. You seem to have compiled a lot of data on McDonalds though as you made some pretty specific claims. Not sure how you got all that data unless you go there frequently. Weird...
I do have to go there, at least once a month for day-long medical appointments to accompany my disabled mom, and occasionally to accompany disabled neighbors who don't have medical aides to help them on long medical appointment days. Usually I prefer the hospital cafeteria but it has very limited hours.
McD's only almost-decent meal is breakfast, which fortunately they now serve extended hours. Their food is terrible. If McD's ever accidentally puts something good on the menu, they'll discontinue it as soon as they discover their mistake. Sonic, Braum's, Wendy's, Whataburger, Burger King, Jack in the Box... all of 'em are better. Jack in the Box 99 cent dogfood tacos are better than anything on the McD's menu. The only fast food burger joint remotely as bad as McD's is In-N-Out Burger, which isn't actually bad just overrated and they cook their burgers into dried husks of formerly meat-like substances.
On the plus side, our local In-N-Out lets homeless people rest and nap there, as long as they don't hassle customers. So, extra credit to them for that. 
